Christian Anfinsen: Protein Folding and the Nobel Prize

How are proteins made? How do they fold, and what role does structure play in their function? Chris Anfinsen's investigations answered these questions; they also led to a Nobel Prize.

Building 10

Michael Potter: The Work of Michael Potter

Michael Potter investigated the twin questions of what causes cancer and how we produce the antibodies called immunoglobulins which protect us from disease.

Building 10

Marshall Nirenberg: Deciphering the Genetic Code

Explore the Nobel Prize-winning work of Marshall Nirenberg, who deciphered the genetic code with the help of NIH colleagues, enabling genetics to become a central scientific field.

The Stadtman Way: A Tale of Two Biochemists at NIH

The scientific power couple of Thressa and Earl Stadtman developed a unique way to train scientists; they each made significant scientific contributions too.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal: The Beginnings of Modern Neuroscience

Learn about the first person to describe the nervous system, including intricate neurons, in exquisite and artistic detail was Santiago Ramón y Cajal.

 Howard Bartner & 40 Years of Medical Illustration

Howard Bartner, an NIH medical illustrator, devoted 40 years to portraying human anatomy in his drawings.

Roscoe Brady & Gaucher's Disease

Is there a disease? What causes it? Can we prevent, treat, or cure it? Roscoe Brady's research into Gaucher's disease answered all three questions.

Martin Rodbell: How Cells Respond to Signals

Studying hormones, Martin Rodbell discovered how cells respond to signals, explaining how our body makes sense of the world. For his work, he was awarded a Nobel Prize.

The AMINCO-Bowman Spectrophotofluorometer

The colorful glow of fluorescent chemicals can identify and measure tiny amounts of substances in the body. This spectrophotofluorometer invented by Robert Bowman did just that.

A Thin Blue Line: The History of the Pregnancy Test Kit

Discover the history of the home pregnancy test—developed at the NIH—and examine its place in our culture.

Drugs as Opiates, Drugs as Research Tools: Synthetic Opiates & Opioids

Learn how the NIH Total Opiate Synthesis freed us from dependence upon flowers for painkillers and opened the door to new ones.

Early Computing at the NIH

This snapshot of some of the computing tools used in NIH labs highlights objects that are now in the NIH Stetten Museum collection.

Early Medical Instruments at the NIH

See a cross-section of precision instruments from our collection used at NIH between 1945 and 1965.

Equal Arm Analytical Balances

Discover one of the most important tools in furthering our understanding of human biology and medicine dating back to 5,000 B.C.

Medical Posters

Discover a collection of 24 medical posters drawn by artists at the NIH, representing topics from arthritis to women's health.

Converging Pathways of Pain Research at NIDCR

Pain is a universally known and feared human condition, but it's also one of the least understood. Learn about NIH research on different facets of pain.